“Working Solutions has been named The Meridian Star’s 2018 Readers’Choice for best staffing agency in East Mississippi!”

The Meridian Star

Readers’ Choice

2018

Your nose is stuffed and your head is pounding. Here’s how to tell if a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection is to blame.

A stuffy nose and headache are common symptoms of many illnesses. So how can you tell whether the culprit is a sinus infection, a common cold, or allergies when the symptoms of these three conditions are so similar?

“It can sometimes be difficult even for doctors to differentiate,” says Alan B. Goldsobel, MD, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California and an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. But there are some key differences that can give you some clues. Get to know more about the symptoms of these three conditions to help you pinpoint the cause of your sinus congestion:

A Sinus Infection

What it feels like: Sinus congestion can cause an aching sensation and a feeling of fullness in the middle of your face, says Dr. Goldsobel. A sinus infection may also be accompanied by other symptoms like post-nasal drip, green (or yellow) nasal discharge, aching in your teeth, fever, bad breath, and sinus pressure or a headache that worsens when you lean forward or lie down. Your face may also feel tender, and upon examination, a doctor should be able to see pus draining near the sinuses, says Fuad M. Baroody, MD, a professor of surgery and pediatrics and director of pediatric otolaryngology at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences in Chicago, Illinois.

What triggers it: Bacteria or viruses trigger sinus infections. Colds, allergies, asthma, and other health conditions can also cause them.

How long it lasts: Sinus infections may clear up on their own without treatment, but some might require medication. If your symptoms last for longer than seven to 10 days, your doctor may consider prescribing antibiotics.

A Cold

What it feels like: You can expect a stuffy nose, but also some runny, discolored mucus, Goldsobel explains. You may also experience a sore throat, cough, sneezing, headache, or fatigue. Another sign is a rising temperature: Colds often trigger a fever, he says, but sometimes those fevers are so mild that people think they have allergies instead.

What triggers it: A virus.

How long it lasts: People usually fend off the cold virus (without treatment) within seven to 10 days, Baroody says. But if your symptoms have lingered past that window of time, you might have sinusitis. If you suspect you have a sinus infection, you should talk to your doctor.

An Allergic Reaction

What it feels like: You may experience some nasal congestion with allergies, but it usually accompanies a runny nose (clear, watery discharge), sneezing, and itchy nose and eyes. Allergies never cause a fever, Goldsobel notes.

What triggers it: Allergens cause an allergic reaction. Common indoor allergens include mold, dust, and animal dander, while outdoor triggers include pollen and ragweed.

How long it lasts: If you have seasonal allergies, you may struggle with allergy symptoms throughout the spring and fall, Dr. Baroody says. If you’re allergic to indoor allergens, you may experience symptoms year-round.

How to Treat Congestion

Because sinus infections, colds, and allergies share some similar symptoms, including congestion, medications like nasal sprays, oral antihistamines, and eye drops can help minimize your discomfort.

If allergies are to blame, do your best to avoid your known triggers and steer clear of any other potential irritants, such as smoke or air pollution. Long-term treatments like immunotherapy (allergy shots) can help desensitize you to allergens and improve symptoms over time.

When Colds and Allergies Cause Sinus Infections

Even if your sinus congestion is being caused by allergies or a cold, it doesn’t mean you won’t develop a sinus infection later on.

In fact, when people have colds or allergies, the lining of the nose will swell up, which prevents mucus from draining properly — and that can then lead to sinusitis, says Goldsobel. People with allergies and asthma may be more vulnerable to sinusitis, though it’s not proven, Baroody says.

If you are at higher risk for sinus infections, you can take steps to prevent them. Don’t let allergy symptoms spiral out of control. And, Baroody says, be on the lookout “for the symptoms of sinus infections, and treat them promptly.”

Heat Stress Causes Body Reactions

Four environmental factors affect the amount of stress a worker faces in a hot work area: temperature, humidity, radiant heat (such as from the sun or a furnace) and air velocity. Perhaps most important to the level of stress an individual faces are personal characteristics such as age, weight, fitness, medical condition and acclimatization to the heat. The body reacts to high external temperature by circulating blood to the skin which increases skin temperature and allows the body to give off its excess heat through the skin. However, if the muscles are being used for physical labor, less blood is available to flow to the skin and release the heat. Sweating is another means the body uses to maintain a stable internal body temperature in the face of heat. However, sweating is effective only if the humidity level is low enough to permit evaporation and if the fluids and salts lost are adequately replaced. Of course there are many steps a person might choose to take to reduce the risk of heat stress, such as moving to a cooler place, reducing the work pace or load, or removing or loosening some clothing. But the body cannot dispose of excess heat, it will store it. When this happens, the body’s core temperature rises and the heart rate increases. As the body continues to store heat, the individual begins to lose concentration and has difficulty focusing on a task, may become irritable or sick and often loses the desire to drink. The next stage is most often fainting and death is possible if the person is not removed from the heat stress.

Workers Are at Increased Risk When
 They take certain medication (check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy and ask if any
medicines you are taking affect you when working in hot environments).
 They have had a heat-induced illness in the past.
 They wear personal protective equipment (like respirators or suits).
 Older age.

Call our Ridgeland office at 601-856-9200 or apply online.

THREEFOOT ARTS FESTIVAL. It’s the premier art festival in the East Mississippi/West Alabama area, featuring top artists, fine crafts, fabulous music, events for kids and of course, the famous Threefoot Bloody Mary. Named for Meridian’s iconic skyscraper, the 2018 Threefoot Festival will be held March 31, 2018 at City Hall Lawn.

JackTown ThrowDown BBQ Competition

March 2 @ 4:00 pm – March 3 @ 9:00 pm

It’s the 2nd Annual JackTown ThrowDown BBQ Competition on March 2 & 3, 2018 at Renaissance at Colony Park. Enjoy delicious BBQ from over 35 master grillers on the Kansas City BBQ circuit. Event will be held on the grounds in front of Seafood R’evolution at Renaissance at Colony Park. Event times on Friday, March 2 are from 4:00 – 9:00 pm and on Saturday, March 3 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Details

Start: March 2 @ 4:00 pm

End: March 3 @ 9:00 pm

Venue

Spring is almost here! It is time to put away the heavy coats and break out the sunglasses. But the weather conditions that lead to “spring fever” also give rise to another affliction that affects many of us-hay fever.

Hay fever can make those who are sensitive to pollen miserable, interfering with work and play. Fortunately, modern medicine has developed drugs which give temporary relief from hay fever’s common symptoms. As users of antihistamines and decongestants know, however, there are side affects to these over-the-counter drugs. The side affect most often experienced is drowsiness.

A Gallup survey of allergy sufferers was conducted several years ago. This survey found that the package warnings against driving or operating heavy machinery while taking the medicine are largely ignored. If you think about it, this shouldn’t be surprising-since people take the medication so that they can continue with their normal activities, and they attempt to do so.

We hope that people will be aware of the drowsiness problem and watch out for it while working or driving. However, a recent Cal-OSHA Reporter article indicates this is not the case. A University Medical Center research team conducted an allergy workshop and concluded that most workers who are trying to control their allergies with over-the-counter drugs are not aware that they are sedated. In addition to feeling drowsy, other side affects of being sedated are reduced coordination, slowed reaction time and impaired judgment. These may be even less recognizable than drowsiness, but any of this can happen when a person is not fully alert. The use of allergy medication can also effect one’s ability to focus on the work to be done by causing dizziness, nervousness, nausea or headaches.

Working in a hazardous industry is dangerous enough in itself. You must be alert at all times and able to react to production issues, recognize safety hazards, and be an asset to the crew. So what can be done to reduce the discomfort of hay fever season, yet keep you effective at work? The following tips may be helpful:

Consider taking the medication for only significant allergy attacks-particularly if your job involves operating machinery or power tools.

If you need the medicine, take the smallest dose possible that will still provide a level of relief that you need.

Before taking the medication, read not only the warnings on the outer package, but also the product insert. This small piece of paper, with equally small print, usually has much more detailed information about the product and possible side effects.

Follow the recommended dosage. More is not necessarily better. Taking “extra doses” may only provide more side effects-and not more relief.

Finally, if you have any questions about allergy medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Some products may be less troublesome than others. Spring allergies can be very uncomfortable, but an accident or injury could bring an even greater problem into your life.

Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 9am to 1pm

WHAT IS A JOB FAIR?

The Governor’s Job Fair is a community sponsored, one day event that brings together a diverse group of employers actively looking for employees.

Each Job Fair is FREE and open to anyone looking for a job.

​​Employers are assembled to offer real job opportunities to those individuals looking for employment.

The Job Fair is distinguished from a​ career day in that job placement rather than career exploration is the main objective and expected outcome. ​

Governor Job Fair events are sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Development Authority.

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security promotes the use of job fairs as another means to help meet the needs of employers, the unemployed, our graduating college and community college students, and our returning military service members. Every job fair planned, conducted or sponsored by this agency is held to the highest standards in organization, professionalism, accessibility, and outcome.

Objectives and outcomes are focused on jobs for the unemployed and quality applicants for employers.​

Applicants are drawn from the military, colleges and universities, laid off workers and those seeking to improve their career options.

Working Solutions in Ridgeland, MS is currently hiring for sorters and machine operators in the Madison area. If you are interested, please check out the job postings listed on the website or call the office at 601-856-9200.